The Guest House

This being human is a guest house

Every morning a new arrival.

A joy, a depression, a meanness,

Some momentary awareness comes

As an unexpected visitor

Welcome and entertain them all

Even if they’re a  crowd of sorrows,

Who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture..

Still, treat each guest honorably,

He may be cleaning you out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,

Meet them at door laughing and invite them in.

Be grateful for whoever comes,

Because each has been sent

As a guide from beyond.

~Rumi

An Irish Blessing

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
...For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

Our longing ... God's longing

At the recent Spiritual Care Network gathering together, assembly, (or versammlung - as Murray Groom liked to call it) of the co ordinating committee and Presbytery 'network builders', we took time to name something of our desires for ourselves and our colleagues. The sharing that went with these was from the heart and there was a positive longing in all of us that we all experience this quality of life.

The question was:

What qualities of ministerial life do we want among us?

(and this is my playful rendering of these into the image offered in an earlier post)

Alive

Trust Authentic

Vitality Laughter

Hope Physical health

Joy Financial security

Forebearance,

tolerance, patience,

grace-respect

Vision Resilience

Inspired commitment Adaptable

Risk together Humility - being ‘right sized’

non-competitive Doing my part

Balance

Support

Serenity / Courage / Wisdom

I’d ask you to participate in 2 ways with this post.

1. When you next gather with some other ministry folk ask the same question ... and see what happens.
2. “Sit” with this question in an intentional way and write down your desires for being filled with ‘life abundant’. Then come back to this post and add something to the list using the ‘comment’ button. (It is very simple to use the anonymous category, but please add your name in your comment)

Fast From-Feast On

Some guidance for Lent that has been making the rounds in Victoria Presbytery:

Fast From-Feast On

Fast from judging others; Feast on the Christ dwelling in them.

Fast from emphasis on differences; Feast on the unity of life.

Fast from apparent darkness; Feast on the reality of light.

Fast from thoughts of illness; Feast on the healing power of God.

Fast from words that pollute; Feast on phrases that purify.

Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; Feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism; Feast on optimism.

Fast from worry; Feast on divine order.

Fast from complaining; Feast on appreciation.

Fast from negatives; Feast on affirmatives.

Fast from unrelenting pressures; Feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from hostility; Feast on non-resistance.

Fast from bitterness; Feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern; Feast on compassion for others.

Fast from personal anxiety; Feast on eternal truth.

Fast from discouragements; Feast on hope.

Fast from facts that depress; Feast on verities that uplift.

Fast from lethargy; Feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from thoughts that weaken; Feast on promises that inspire.

Fast from shadows of sorrow; Feast on the sunlight of serenity.

Fast from idle gossip; Feast on purposeful silence.

Fast from problems that overwhelm; Feast on prayer that [strengthens].

—William Arthur Ward (American author, teacher and pastor, 1921-1994.) 

Posted by Murray Groom, Spiritual Care Network Committee Chair and Minister at Sylvan United

Balance Rock

Did you know that there is a 'performance art' of Rock Balancing?  Apparently there is a community of people who spend their time trying to balance seemingly impossible things on top of each other! 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriscorrigan/sets/72157594486006613/show/

I attended a Prince Rupert Presbytery meeting last fall on Haida Gwaii, and this is a photo of Balance rock that I took while I was there. 

Balance Rock: Another one of the Queen Charlottes' spiritual wonders is Balance Rock. A large bolder left behind from the glacial retreat of the ice age. Many decades later it still sits perfectly suspended on another rock's pointed head, guarding the shores of Skidegate, Graham Island.
Defying all odds for many centuries, one must scratch their heads and ask, "How come not even the powerful forces of a Queen Charlotte Island storm, with its thundering waves and high winds, are still not able to knock the rock from its magical perch?" Huh ... why is that?
There are some who refer to Balance Rock as the centre of spirituality. It is one of the many natural spiritual forces at work on Haida Gwaii.

This is a very interesting image for me, and one I've held in my mind for the past few months.  It looks like this rock could be moved with the lightest of touches, but yet it holds fast.  You can climb on it, play on it, even try to move it, and it holds fast. 
I wonder... An image of our church?  Of our lives?  Of our approach to self care?  An image of God?
What is that holds me/us/this church fast? 
I am planning to reflect on this image through the season of Lent and see what wisdom it offers.
Blessings, Treena